CHENNAI: People may be able to begin constructing an apartment sooner than before as CMDA is set to introduce deemed NOCs for highrise buildings (HRB), particularly those above five floors or 18 metres tall.
CMDA, which introduced online plan permission in May 2022, on average approves 70 plans every month and more than 70 highrise buildings every year. The numbers were 35 and 60 prior to 2022, say CMDA officials.
But issuing approvals took at least 45 days, especially because of the process of getting NOCs from stakeholder departments. CMDA officials say there are 21 departments, including state and Union govt agencies, involved in issuing NOCs to highrise and non-highrise buildings and layouts and sub-division approval in the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
Most departments are integrated with cmdaonlineppa.tn.gov.in, but developers of highrise buildings only need approval from Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services, Airports Authority of India (if it is 30.5 metres high or above 10 floors), CMRL (if building is within metro alignment), and WRD (if it’s near water bodies).
A structural stability report from PWD is required, as is environmental clearance if it measures 20,000 sq m or more.
For non-highrise buildings (public, commercial, and institutional) that are between 12 metres and 18 metres tall, TNFRS’s NOC is a must. Depending on the location, CMRL and WRD NOCs are also required. It takes months to get NOC from departments such as WRD and ASI.
“We have proposed a 30-day timeframe for NOC. The first seven days will be for inspection and document scrutiny by the department concerned. Subsequently, the applicant has to furnish the required documents and details within two weeks. After this, within 10 days a NOC has to be issued. It will be deemed to be given if the department fails to provide it on time,” said a CMDA official.
The NOC issued will reflect in the plan permission portal. “Random inspections will be carried out,” he said. Recently, a meeting was held at the secretariat, where CMDA and other stakeholder departments took part.
S Sridharan,vice-president, Credai National, South, said that if implemented this will be a major breakthrough in the housing and construction industry. “Home buyers will also benefit as delivery will be quicker. The speedy approval process will attract large investments from other states to TN.”
A Mohamed Ali,. president, Credai Chennai, said that it is a welcome move. “Things can go faster and if approvals are given on time we can meet the growing demand.”
